Catch with anti-release latch

ABSTRACT

A catch for releasably connecting two separable parts and having a base adapted for attachment to one part and an operating lever operable to move a latch into engagement with a strike attached to the other part. A manually releasable resilient generally Ushaped locking element acts between the operating lever and another part of the catch to automatically lock and releasably retain the catch in its closed or strike engaging position when the catch is moved to the latter position.

United States Patent Swanson 1451 June 20, 1972 [54] CATCH WITHANTI-RELEASE LATCH [72] Inventor: Gunnar E. Swanson, Middletown, Conn.

[73] Assignee: The Nielsen Hardware Corporation, Hartford, Conn.

221 Filed: Feb. 24, 1971 211 App]. No.: 118,552

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 790,130,Jan. 9, l969, abancloned.

[52] U.S. Cl ..24/68 T [51] Int. Cl; ..A43(! 1 1/00 [58] Field of Search..292/248', 254/78; 24/68 T, 68 CD, I 24/68 E 56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 'l,091,344 3/1914 Jenks .1 ..24/68T 12/1922Langenau ..292/24s 2,852,827 9/1958 Arnold .24/68 co 2,945,274 7/1960Paterson. ....24/68 T 3,271,007 9/1966 Ratcliff ..254/78 FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 1,1 14,621 5/1968 Great Britain ..24/68 T PrimaryExaminer-Donald A. Griffin 7 [5 7] ABSTRACT A catch for releasablyconnecting two separable parts and having a base adapted for attachmentto one part and an operating lever operable to move a latch intoengagement with a strike attached to the other part. A manuallyreleasable resilient generally U-shaped locking element acts between theoperating lever and another part of the catch to automatically lock andreleasably retain the catch in its closed or strike engaging positionwhen the catch is moved to the latter position.

22 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures CATCH WITH ANTI-RELEASE LATCH Thisapplication is a continuation of Ser. No. 790,130, filed Jan. 9, 1969,now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a catch forreleasably connecting two separable parts such as the body and cover ofa case or box. More particularly, the invention deals with a catchhaving a latch engageable with an associated strike, a pivotingoperating lever operable to move the latch into engagement with thestrike, and a locking element which acts between the operating lever andanother part of the catch to retain the catch in its strike engagingposition.

The general aim of the present invention is to provide an improved catchunit of relatively simple construction wherein the operating lever isreleasably held in its closed position by an easily operated lockingdevice which resists shock loads and vibration. A more specific aim ofthe invention is to provide a catch of the foregoing character which maybe arranged to automatically lock in its closed position.

SUM Y OF THE, INVENTION The invention resides in a catch having a basefor attachment to a supporting part and a latch movable into and out ofholding engagement with a strike on another part, a lever movablebetween closed and open positions for moving the latch into and out ofengagement with the strike, and a locking element for holding theoperating lever in its closed position so as to resist inadvertent oraccidental opening of the catch. The locking element may be of suchcharacter as to provide a restraint between the operating lever and thebase or between the operating lever and the latch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevational view ofa catch embodying the present invention and shown in its closedposition.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the catch shown in FIG. 1 shown in its closedposition.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the catch in its open position. i7

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another catch embodying thepresent invention and shown in its closed position, a portionof theoperating lever being shown broken away to revelthe structure of otherparts. I i

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view=taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of still another catch em bodying thepresent invention and shown in its closed position,

a portion of the operating lever being shown broken away to.

reveal the structure of other parts.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the catch of FIG. 8 but shows thecatch in its open position.

FIG. I I is a front elevational view of yet another catch embodying thepresent invention, and shown in its closed position, a portion of theoperating lever being shown broken away to reveal the structure of otherparts.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the catch of FIG. 11, shown in itsclosed position.

FIG. 13 is generally similar to FIG. 12 but shows the catch in its openposition.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the locking element of the catch shownin FIG. 11. 1 I

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the linel5--I5ofFIG. ll.

FIG. '16 is a front elevational view of still another catch ernbodyingthe present invention and shown in its closed position. FIG. 17 is afragmentary front elevational view of the catch of FIG. 14, but showsthe catch in its open position.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 17-17 ofFIG.16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to thedrawings and referring first particularly to FIGS. 14, a catch embodyingthe present invention and indicated generally at 20 is adapted for usein cooperation with a strike 22 to releasably connect two separableparts 24 and 26.

The catch 20 is particularly adapted for use as a fastener for theclosure of a knapsack or the like, therefore, the parts 24 and 26 may,for example, respectively comprise parts of a knapsack body and closure.

The catch 20 includes a base 28, suitably adapted for attachment to thepart 26 and which base includes openings 30, 30 for use in fixedlyattaching the same to the part as with rivets or the like. The base 28has a central opening 31 therethrough partially defined by an upper edge32 and also includes a pair of transversely spaced and verticallyextending side flanges 34, 34 which are bent forwardly from the centralportion thereof. Each side flange 34 has a rounded ear 36 depending fromits forward end which includes a rearwardly facing abutment surface 38.The catch 20 also includes an operating member or lever 40 connectedwith the base 28 for pivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axisfixed relative to the base. The lever 40 has two parallel side flanges42, 42 connected by transverse webs and a cross member 44. The flanges42, 42 extend generally parallel to the base when the lever is in itsclosed position as it appears in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. The pivotalconnection between the base and the operating lever is provided by atransversely aligned and horizontally extending pivot pin 45 whichpasses through apertures in the base flanges 34, 34 and throughcorresponding apertures in the lever flanges 42, 42. In the embodimentshown in FIGS. l-4 the lever 40 has an extension 46 which serves as afinger piece for moving the lever and connected parts relative to thebase. From the latter figures, it will also be noted that the leverflanges 42, 42 have a substantially greater length than the flanges 34,34 of the base and that whenthe operating lever is in its closedposition its side flanges 42, 42 are located closely adjacent to andbetween the flanges 34, 34 but extend for some distance therebelow.

A latch 48 is pivotally connected with the lever 40 and is engageablewith the strike 22. Preferably and as shown the latch 48 is made fromresilient flat metal and has generally U- shaped hook 50 at its upperend which defines a bearing surface for engaging an upwardly facingbearing surface 52 on the strikes, as best shown in FIG. 4. A loop 53formed at the lower end of the latch 48 encircles the cross member 44 toprovide pivotal connection between the lever 40 and the latch 48. A tab54 struck from the latch 48 extends rearwardly into the central opening31 in spaced relation to the surface 32 when the latch is in its closedposition as shown in FIG. 4. When a sudden shock load is applied to thestrike 22, the arcuately shaped latch 48 tends to straighten or elongatein the direction of the strike until the tab 54 engages the abutmentsurface32. Thus, the tab 54 provides a means for resisting deformationof the latch 48 under shock load conditions or the like.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the generallyU-shaped locking element or locking'spring which releasably retains thelatch in its closed position so that it will resist opening under shockloads or the influence of vibration. The locking element may takevarious forms and be supported to act between various parts of thecatch. In the device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the locking elementconstitutes a resilient generally U-shaped hairpin-like locking pinindicated generally at 56 carried by the lever 40 and engageable withthe are disposed below the base flanges 34, 34 when the lever 40 is inits closed position. The free ends of the legs 58 and 60 extend for somedistance beyond the flanges 42 and 34 and have opposing crowned orgenerally V-shaped bent portions 62 and 64 respectively formed thereinand spaced from the terminal ends thereof, as best shown in FIG. 1. Theconnecting portion 61 is bent forwardly from the plane of the legs toserve as a handle for slidably moving the locking pin 56 transversely ofthe operating lever 40 between locking and releasing positionsrespectively indicated by full and broken lines in FIG. 1, the aperturesin the flanges 42, 42 being of sufiicient diameter to permit thisshifting movement. When the catch 20 is in its closed position and thelocking element 56 is in its locking position, it will be noted that thebent portion 62 is engagable with an associated abutment surface 38, onone flange 34 and a portion of the connecting portion 61 is engagablewith the abutment surface 38 on the other flange 34 to retain the catch20 in its closed position. To open the catch 20 the pin 56 is moved toits releasing position in which position the bent portions 62 and 64 aredisposed between the flanges 42, 42 so that horizontally extendingportions of the upper leg 58 are disposed below the cars 36, 36. Thus,the lever 40 is free to pivot forwardly about its axis or in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 3 free ofinterference from the ears 36,36.

When the catch 20 is moved from its open to its closed position and thelocking pin 56 in its locking position the catch 20 is automaticallylocked or releasably retained in its closed position. As the operatinglever 40 is pivoted toward it closed position the crowned portion 62 andthe connecting portion 61 each respectively engage one of the roundedcars 36, 36, which cam or deflect the upper leg 58 generally toward thelower leg 60 and away from its abutment engagable position so that thelever 40 may be pivoted to its fully closed position. When the lever 40attains the latter position the connecting portion 61 biases the upperleg 58 to a position rearwardly of the ears 36, 36 and the abutmentsurfaces 38, 38 to releasable retain the catch 20 in its closedposition. If desired, the catch 20 may be moved to its closed positionwith the locking pin 56 in its releasing position and thereafter belocked in, closed position by manually moving the locking pin to itslocking position.

With the exception of its locking element, each of the catches whichillustrate further embodiments of the present invention are of generallyconventional type and need not be described in full detail. FIGS. -7show another catch construction which has a locking element or lockingspring constructed differently from the corresponding element employedin the construction of FIGS. 14. The catch indicated generally at 70 hasa base 72 and includes an operating lever 74 connected to the base forpivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axis fixed relative tothe base and a latch 75 connected to the lever for movement into and outof engagement with a strike (not shown). The lever 74 is shown as havingtwo parallel side flanges 76, 76 which extend generally parallel to thebase when the lever is in its closed position, as shown. The pivotalconnection between the base and the operating lever is provided by twotransversely aligned and horizontally extending pivot pins 78, 78 whichpass through apertures in the side flanges 76, 76 and throughcorresponding apertures in transversely spaced flanges 80, 80 bentforwardly from the base 72 and located closely adjacent and between theflanges 76, 76. A rounded hook 82 is bent forwardly from the left sideof the base below the flange 80 as viewed in FIG. 5. The hook opendownwardly and has a rearwardly facing abutment surface 84. A roundedtab 86 is bent outwardly from the base below the other flange 80opposite the hook 82. When the lever 74 is in its closed position, as itappears in FIGS. 5-7, the side flanges thereof extend for a substantialdistance below the hook 82 and the tab 86. The latch 75 comprises acomposite line which has a hook formed at its upper end for engaging thestrike and at its lower end is pivotally connected to the operatinglever 74 by a horizontally disposed transversely extending pivot pin 88which extends through the lower portion of the latch 75 and throughapertures in the lever side flanges 76,76.

The catch 70 includes a locking element of generally U- shaped lockingpin indicated generally at 92 which is carried by the lever 74 andengageable with the base 72. Like the previously described locking pin56 the pin 92 is bent from resilient wire and has a upper leg 94 and alower leg 96 joined together by a U-shaped connecting portion 99 andwhich extend through apertures in the side flanges 76, 76. The upper leg94 has an upwardly bent or crowned portion 98 disposed between theflanges 76, 76 and near the tab 86 and preferably having the shape of aninverted V, as shown. The terminal or free end portion of the lower leg96 is turned downwardly and serves to prevent the pin from beingdislodged from the lever 74 when it is shifted with respect to the leverfrom its locking or full line position to its releasing or broken lineposition as shown in FIG. 5. In locking position a portion of the upperleg 94 is disposed within the hook 82 and is engageable with theabutment surface 84 to retain the catch 70 in its closed position. Whenthe locking pin is shifted to its releasing position the tab 86cammingly engages the crowned portion 98 to move the latter portion to aposition in engagement with the lower side of the tab so that the upperleg 94 is deflected generally toward the lower leg 96 and out ofengagement with the hook 82. As the lever 74 is pivoted toward its openposition the crowned portion 98 remains in engagement with the tab 86until the upper leg 94 has moved to a position forwardly of the abutmentsurface 84. As the locking pin moves out of engagement with the tab 86the upper leg is biased away from the lower leg 96 and an inclined partof the crowned portion 98 engages the flange 76 at the right side of thelever 74 to urge the pin 92 toward its locking position. When the lever74 is again pivoted toward its closed position an inclined part of thecrowned portion 98 engages the tab 86 to further urge the pin 92 towardits locking position. Thus, when the catch 70 is moved toward its closedposition the rounded forward part of the hook 82 cammingly engages theupper leg 94 to move it into engagement with the hook and therebyautomatically lock or releasably retain the catch 70 in its closedposition.

Still another catch embodying the invention and indicated generally at100 is shown in FIGS. 8-10. The catch 100 is similar in many respects tothe catch 70 previously described but differs therefrom in the manner inwhich its locking pin is supported and arranged. Specifically, the catch100 includes an operating member or lever 102 pivotally supported on abase 104 and carrying a latch member 106. The lever has parallel sideflanges 108 and 110. The flange 108 has a downwardly opening hook-likerecess 112 formed therein which has a rounded part 113 and a forwardlyfacing abutment surface 114 best shown in FIG. 9. A pivotal connectionbetween the base and the operating lever is provided by two transverselyaligned and horizontally extending pivot pins 116, 116 which passthrough apertures in the side flanges 108 and and through correspondingapertures in transversely spaced flanges 118, 118 bent outwardly fromthe base 104. The catch 100 also includes a locking element or generallyU- shaped locking pin indicated generally at 120 which is substantiallyidentical to the pin 92 previously described, however, the lockingspring or pin 120 is supported by the base 104 and engageable with thelever 102. The pin 120 has upper and lower legs respectively indicatedat 122 and 124 joined together by a generally U-shaped connectionportion 125. The legs 122 and 124 pass through vertically disposed slotsin the flanges 118, 118. The upper leg 122 has an upwardly bent orcrowned portion 126 formed thereon between the flanges 118, 118 and nearthe flange 110. The terminal end of the lower leg 124 is bent downwardlyand the connecting portion 125 is bent forwardly to serve as a handlefor shifting the pin 120 relative to the base 104 between a locking orfull line position and a releasing or broken line position as shown inFIG. 8. When the catch 100 is in its closed position and the locking pin120 is in its locking position the leg 122 resides within the recess 112and is engageable with the abutment surface 114 to releasably retain thecatch in its closed position. When the locking pin is moved to itsreleasing position the right base flange 118 cammingly engages todeflectthe leg 122 generally toward the leg 124 and out of the recess112 so that the lever 102 may be pivoted to its open position as shownin FIG. 10. The downwardly bent terminal end of the leg 124 engages theleft base flange 118 to arrest movement to.the pin 120 when the pinattains its releasing position. When the lever 102 is pivoted toward itsclosed position with the pin 120 in its locking position the roundedportion 113 engages the upper leg 122 to cam it into engagement with therecess 112 and automatically lock the catch 100 in its closed position.

Another catch embodying the present invention and indicated generally atis shown in FIGS. 11-13. The catch 130 includes an operating member orlever 132 pivotally mounted on a base 134 and carrying a pivoted latchmember 136 which comprises a composite link. At its upper end the linkhas a strike engaging bar 138. The lower end of the link is pivotallyconnected to the lever 132 by a transversely extending pivot pin 140which passes through the lower end and through parallel side flanges ofthe lever 132 indicated at 142, 142. The lever is in turn pivoted on thebase 134 by a pair of horizontally disposed transversely extending pivotpins 144, 144 which pass through apertures in the side flanges 142, 142and through corresponding apertures in transversely spaced flanges 148,148 bent forwardly from the base 134. A hook 150 bentforwardly from thebase 134 below the left flanges 148 has a downwardly opening recesswhich includes an inwardly facing abutment surface 152. A tab 154extends outwardly from the base below the other base flange 148.

The catch 130 includes a locking element of locking pin indicatedgenerally at 156 carried by the lever 132 and engagea ble with the base134; Like the previously described locking pins the locking spring orpin 156 has two legs 158 and 160 joined together by a generally U-shapedconnecting portion 162. The leg l58 has a handle portion 164 formedtherein which lies in a plane generally normal to the plane of the legs.The legs 158 andl60 extend through vertically disposed slots in thelever flanges 142, 142. Thelegs are bent outwardly in oppositedirections at their respective terminal ends and the connecting portion162 is bent forwardly to retain the pin 156 in assembly with the lever132. The'handle 164 projects forwardly .beyond the lever 132 andprovides a means for manually deflecting the upper leg or moving it fromits locking or solid line position to its releasing or broken lineposition as shown in FIG. 11. The locking pin 156 is normally biased toits locking position thus when the lever 132 is pivoted toward itsclosed position the. free end of the leg 158 engages the rounded portionof the hook 150 to deflect or cam the leg into engagement with the hook.When the lever 132 is in its closed position the leg 158 is engageablewith the abutment surface 152 to releasably retain the catch 130 in itsclosed position. The catch may be released or opened by moving thehandle 164 downwardly to deflect the leg to its releasing position.

Considering now FIGS. 1618 another catch embodying the present inventionand indicated generally at includes a base 172, suitably adapted forattachment to a part, and an operating lever 174. It further includes alatch member or draw bar 176 which is pivotally connected to one end ofthe operating lever 174 by a transversely extending pin 178 for engaginga strike (not shown). The draw bar is adjustable to length and iscomprised basically of two parts. These two parts are a strikeengageable claw 180 and an inner part 182. The claw 180 includes a wideupper part 184 preferably made of sheet metal and a threaded shank 186.The inner part 182 is preferable formed from sheet metal, as shown, andin addition to defining a transversely extending opening for receivingthe pivot pin 178 also defines a longitudinally extending centrallyarranged opening into which the shank 186 of the claw 180 is threaded.

The base 172 is adapted to rest flatly against the surface of a panel orpart and may be secured thereto in any convenient manner, as for exampleby screws or rivets or the like. Two

transversely spaced flanges 188, 188 extend forwardly from the portionof the base engaging the panel and include aligned openings whichreceive a pair of pivot pieces or trunnings 190, 190. Each pivot pieceto trunnion 190 is in turn fixedly attached to an associated flat link192 which is welded to an associated one of two transversely spaced andlongitudinally extending side flanges 194, 194 on the operating lever174.

As mentioned, the draw bar 176 is pivotally connected to the inner endof the operating lever 174 by the transversely ex tending pivot pin 178which is pivotally received in openings extending through the operatinglever side flanges 194, 194 and through two links 192, 192. As soconstructed and arranged, the catch unit 170 can be closed and opened bymove ment of the operating lever 174 relative to the base 172 about theaxis of the trunnions 190, 190. In the closed condition of the catch,the operating lever 174 overlies the draw bar 176 and the strike. Thatis, the free end of the operating lever faces in a direction away fromthe base 172 and toward the strike. In the open condition of the catch,the operating lever is displaced a substantial angular distance from thestrike, as shown in FIG. 17.

The catch 170 also includes a generally U-shaped locking element orlocking spring indicated generally at 196 carried by and extendinglongitudially of the operating lever. The locking element is engageablewith a locking stud 198 associated with the draw bar to releasablyretain the catch 170 in its closed position when the draw bar is inengagement with an associated strike. The locking stud 198 is riveted orotherwise suitably secured to the claw 180 and projects forwardlytherefrom and through a longitudinally elongated opening in the lever174 when the lever is in its closed position. It has generallycylindrical shank portion 200 and an enlarged head 202 on its outer orfree end which has a generally conical shape and defines a rearwardlyfacing abutment surface 203. The locking element 196 is preferably madefrom flat spring metal and has two paralleland closely spaced legs 204,204 joined together by a U-shaped connecting portion 206. A generallycircular central opening 208 through the locking element 196 partiallydefined by each of the legs has a diameter slightly larger than thediameter of the head 202 to allow the head to pass freely therethrough.A longitudinally spaced series of generally circular overlappingopenings 210, 210 are formed in the locking element immediately adjacentand communicating with the central opening 208. Each opening 210 ispartially defined by each of the legs and has a diameter substantiallyequal to the diameter of the shank portion 200. A longitudinallyextending slot 212 is formed in the locking element 196 neartheconnecting portion 206. Rivets 214, 214 serve to retain the lockingelement 196 in assembly with the lever 174, for longitudinal slidingmovement relative thereto. One rivet 214 passes through the slot 212 andthe other rivet passes through one of the openings 210. The lockingelement 196 is movable relative to the lever between a locking positionindicated by full lines and a releasing position shown in broken linesin FIG. 16. In the locking position one of the openings 210 is generallycoaxially aligned with the conical head 202 as the lever is pivotedtoward the draw bar to bring the catch to its closed position. The head202 cammingly engages the legs 204, 204 within an associated opening 194to deflect the legs in opposite directions so that the locking elementcan snap over the head 202 and into general engagement with the shank200. When the catch 170 is in its closed position the latter element isengageable with the abutment surface 203 to releasably retain the catchin its closed position. To open the catch the locking element 196 ismoved longitudinally to its releasing position in which position theenlarged opening 208 is generally coaxially aligned with the head 202 sothat the head may freely pass through the latter opening as the lever174 is pivoted toward its open position. As previously noted the drawbar 176 is adjustable so that the locking stud 198 may take variouspositions with respect to the lever and it is for this reason that aplurality of locking apertures 210, 210 are provided for engaging thelocking stud 198 in its various positions.

I claim:

1. A catch for releasably connecting two separable parts one of whichcarries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of connected membersincluding a base member adapted for attachment to the other of saidparts in general alignment with said strike, a strike engaging membermovable relative to said base member between an open position out ofengagement with the strike and a closed position in engagementtherewith, and an operating member providing connection between saidbase member and said strike engaging member for moving the latter memberbetween its open and closed positions in response to the movement ofsaid operating member between the open and a closed positionrespectively, an abutment surface associated with one of said members,and a one-piece locking element carried by another of said members andhaving a locking portion and a resilient portion for biasing saidlocking portion to a position wherein said locking portion is engagablewith said abutment surface, said locking element including an operatingportion adapted for manual manipulation for moving said locking portionfrom a locking position to a releasing position, said locking portioncooperating with said abutment surface in said locking position toretain said other member in a generally fixed position relative to saidone member.

2. A catch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking elementcomprises a single piece of resilient wire.

3. A catch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking elementcomprises a single piece of resilient flat metal.

4. A catch as set forth in claim 1 including means for deflecting saidlocking portion from its locking position when said operating member ismoved toward its closed position.

5. A catch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for deflectingsaid locking portion comprises a cam surface on said one member.

6. A catch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said other member has anopening therethrough and including a locking stud carried by said onemember and defining said abutment surface, said locking stud projectingthrough said opening when said operating member is in said lockingposition and said locking portion is in said locking position, saidlocking stud comprising said means for deflecting said locking portion.

7. A catch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one member comprisessaid base member and said other member comprises said operating member.

8. A catch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one member comprisessaid operating member and said other member comprises said base member.

9. A catch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one member comprisessaid strike engaging member and said other member comprises saidoperating member.

10. A catch as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking portion isengageable with said abutment surface when said operating member is inan open position and said strike engaging member is in an open positionto restrain said operating member against movement relative to saidstrike engaging member.

ll. A catch for releasably connecting two separable parts one of whichcarries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of connected membersincluding a base member adapted for attachment to the other of saidparts in general alignment with the strike, a strike engaging membermovable relative to said base member between an open position and aclosed position relative to the strike, and an operating memberproviding connection between said base member and said strike engagingmember for moving the latter member between open and closed positions inresponse to movement of said operating member between an open positionand a closed position respectively, an abutment surface associated withone of said members, a generally U-Shaped locking element having twospaced apart generally parallel legs extending in one direction andsupported by another of said members for movement relative theretobetween locking and releasing positions, at least one of said legs beingbiased to a position of engagement with said abutment surface when saidlockin element is in said locking position and said operating mem r ISin said closed position to releasably retain said operating member insaid closed position, and means for deflecting said one leg relative tothe other of said legs and from its abutment engageable position whensaid operating member is moved toward its closed position to permit saidoperating member to be moved to its closed position when said lockingelement is in said locking position.

12. A catch as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for deflectingsaid one leg comprises a cam surface on said one member for engaging aportion of said one leg.

13. A catch as defined in claim 11 wherein said locking element ismovable in said one and an opposite direction between said locking andreleasing positions.

14. A catch as set forth in claim ll wherein said other member ispivotally connected to said one member and said one direction isgenerally parallel to the axis of pivoted connection.

15. A catch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other member ispivotally connected to said one member and said one direction isgenerally transverse of the axis of pivoted connection.

16. A catch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said locking elementcomprises a piece of resilient wire.

17. A catch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said locking elementcomprises a piece of resilient flat metal.

18. A catch as set forth in claim 11 including means for moving saidlocking element from said releasing position to said locking position inresponse to movement of said operating member to said closed position.

19. A catch as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for moving saidlocking element from said releasing position to said locking positioncomprises a cam surface on said one member and another cam surface onsaid one leg for engaging said cam surface on said one member 20. Acatch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said locking element has a camsurface thereon which cooperates with said deflecting means to hold saidone leg out of engagement with said abutment surface when said operatingmember is in said closed position and said locking member is in saidreleasing position.

21. A catch as set forth in claim 20 wherein said locking elementcomprises a resilient piece of wire and said cam surface comprises abent portion of one of said legs.

22. A catch for releasably connected two separable parts one of whichcarries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of connected membersincluding a base member adapted for attachment to the other of saidparts in general alignment with the strike, a strike engaging membermovable relative to said base member between an open position and aclosed position relative to the strike, and an operating memberconnected to said base member to said strike engaging member for movingthe latter member between its open and closed positions in response tomovement of said operating member between an open position and a closedposition respectively, means providing an abutment surface associatedwith one of said members, and a generally U-shaped locking elementcomprising a piece of resilient wire having two legs extending in onedirection and supported by another of said members for movement relativethereto in said one and an opposite direction between locking andreleasing positions, at least one of said legs having a portion thereofbent from said one direction, said bent portion being engageable withsaid abutment surface when said locking element is in said lockingposition and said operating member is in said closed position toreleasably retain said operating member in said closed position.

l III g;gg j v 'STQX'lfESPATENT -OFFICB I a OF CORRECTION Pa'terit 01.Dated Jun-e20, 1972 It fhaferror appears the above-ideuti fied pateutand that saidfLe-ttm's Patentjare hereby corrected as shown below:

' Col. line 48, after "has" insert '--a--.

Col. line 49,'-'strikes" should read --strike--.

Cold Kline 28, "it" should read --its-- Col. line=36, "releasable"should read --releasably- Col. line 3, "of" should read -or-- Col. line62, "connection" should read connecting-n Col. ,line' 311, "of" shouldread --'or--. Col. line .4, "to". should read ---or--.

Col. lin 12, Claim l, "the" should read -an--. Col. lirfe 26, Claim 3,"2" should read -l-.

Signed iai ndwseal e'd this 2nd 'dayof January: 1973;

(SEAL) Attest: v

' EDWARDJMJLETQHERJR. v I I ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng OfflcerCommissioner of Patents

2. A catch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking elementcomprises a single piece of resilient wire.
 3. A catch as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said Locking element comprises a single piece ofresilient flat metal.
 4. A catch as set forth in claim 1 including meansfor deflecting said locking portion from its locking position when saidoperating member is moved toward its closed position.
 5. A catch as setforth in claim 4 wherein said means for deflecting said locking portioncomprises a cam surface on said one member.
 6. A catch as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said other member has an opening therethrough andincluding a locking stud carried by said one member and defining saidabutment surface, said locking stud projecting through said opening whensaid operating member is in said locking position and said lockingportion is in said locking position, said locking stud comprising saidmeans for deflecting said locking portion.
 7. A catch as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said one member comprises said base member and saidother member comprises said operating member.
 8. A catch as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said one member comprises said operating member and saidother member comprises said base member.
 9. A catch as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said one member comprises said strike engaging memberand said other member comprises said operating member.
 10. A catch asset forth in claim 9 wherein said locking portion is engageable withsaid abutment surface when said operating member is in an open positionand said strike engaging member is in an open position to restrain saidoperating member against movement relative to said strike engagingmember.
 11. A catch for releasably connecting two separable parts one ofwhich carries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of connectedmembers including a base member adapted for attachment to the other ofsaid parts in general alignment with the strike, a strike engagingmember movable relative to said base member between an open position anda closed position relative to the strike, and an operating memberproviding connection between said base member and said strike engagingmember for moving the latter member between open and closed positions inresponse to movement of said operating member between an open positionand a closed position respectively, an abutment surface associated withone of said members, a generally U-Shaped locking element having twospaced apart generally parallel legs extending in one direction andsupported by another of said members for movement relative theretobetween locking and releasing positions, at least one of said legs beingbiased to a position of engagement with said abutment surface when saidlocking element is in said locking position and said operating member isin said closed position to releasably retain said operating member insaid closed position, and means for deflecting said one leg relative tothe other of said legs and from its abutment engageable position whensaid operating member is moved toward its closed position to permit saidoperating member to be moved to its closed position when said lockingelement is in said locking position.
 12. A catch as defined in claim 11wherein said means for deflecting said one leg comprises a cam surfaceon said one member for engaging a portion of said one leg.
 13. A catchas defined in claim 11 wherein said locking element is movable in saidone and an opposite direction between said locking and releasingpositions.
 14. A catch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said othermember is pivotally connected to said one member and said one directionis generally parallel to the axis of pivoted connection.
 15. A catch asset forth in claim 11 wherein said other member is pivotally connectedto said one member and said one direction is generally transverse of theaxis of pivoted connection.
 16. A catch as set forth in claim 11 whereinsaid locking element comprises a piece of resilient wire.
 17. A catch asset forth in claim 11 wherein said locking element comprises a piece ofresilient flat metal.
 18. A catch as set forth in claim 11 includingmeAns for moving said locking element from said releasing position tosaid locking position in response to movement of said operating memberto said closed position.
 19. A catch as set forth in claim 18 whereinsaid means for moving said locking element from said releasing positionto said locking position comprises a cam surface on said one member andanother cam surface on said one leg for engaging said cam surface onsaid one member.
 20. A catch as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidlocking element has a cam surface thereon which cooperates with saiddeflecting means to hold said one leg out of engagement with saidabutment surface when said operating member is in said closed positionand said locking member is in said releasing position.
 21. A catch asset forth in claim 20 wherein said locking element comprises a resilientpiece of wire and said cam surface comprises a bent portion of one ofsaid legs.
 22. A catch for releasably connecting two separable parts oneof which carries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality ofconnected members including a base member adapted for attachment to theother of said parts in general alignment with the strike, a strikeengaging member movable relative to said base member between an openposition and a closed position relative to the strike, and an operatingmember connected to said base member to said strike engaging member formoving the latter member between its open and closed positions inresponse to movement of said operating member between an open positionand a closed position respectively, means providing an abutment surfaceassociated with one of said members, and a generally U-shaped lockingelement comprising a piece of resilient wire having two legs extendingin one direction and supported by another of said members for movementrelative thereto in said one and an opposite direction between lockingand releasing positions, at least one of said legs having a portionthereof bent from said one direction, said bent portion being engageablewith said abutment surface when said locking element is in said lockingposition and said operating member is in said closed position toreleasably retain said operating member in said closed position.